Samuel w



dinard ndert strat dttjrr.

Letters Patent No. 97,558, elated December 7, 1869.

BOOT-CONFORMATOR.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUELV W. SHOREY, of Galesburg, in the county of Knox, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful improvement in ins'trumentsfor taking themeasure and shape of the human foot, and which I denominate a' Boot-Conformator; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which-,-

Figure l represents a' plan of a boot-conformator constructed inaocordanoe with my invention;

Figure 2, a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same; and

Figure 3, an inverted plan of the hinged or risingaml-talling-ii'ame portion of the instrument, with its 'n'ieasuriiig-attachments and sole-plate.

' My invention consistsin an instrument or device ibrtaking not only the measure but the shape of the foot in a positive manner, as contradistinguished from merely draughting the contour of the same, and in sucha way as that it gives the exacttread or contour when the foot is in its natural position, as raised from the ground, or before itis spread out and changed by pressure on the ground, said instrument operating to measure the foot every time alike, s0 that, by means of it, a last can be fitted upby the boot-maker, or made to order by the last-maker, so asto` correspond with the foot exactly, however vzried tlie shape f the foot may be, either as a whole, or at certain parts.

Thus said instrument is, or may be constrnctedto take, in addition to the general measure of the foot, the height of theinstep, also of the ball and great toe, the arch of the foot, and, in fact, all, or different irregularities.

Referring to the accompanying drawing- A rclnesents a sole-plate, which is carried by a snrroulnling ii'ame, B, made up, in part, of variouslydispose-d or radiating hase-bars, F, and which is so hung, or connected with a main base-board, G, that rests upon the ground, as thatsaid frame is free to rise and fall, for which purpose it may be hinged at its one end, as at a, and suitably guided or directed at its other end, as at l).

,'fkrranged on the radiating bars F, bynieans of strap-like attachments, so as to be capable of being slid along the same, preferably under slight frictional hold, by springs t, are adjustable measuringuprights C, which are each drawn inward by independent springs s, for the purpose of insuring a soft or easy pressure 'of said uprights against different portions ofthe foot as it rests upon the sole-plate A. These uprights C serve to give the tread or contour of the foot while the latter is in a raised po-y sti'on, and retains its natural shape, inasmuch as the foot is only madeto rest freely, without weight or prcssurc,'on the sole-plate, or the 'latter moved up to the foot when raised, and then the frame B brought down, so as to cause knives or markers E,

attached to the lower ends of the uprights C, to indicate, on a sheet .of paper, or other material, placed on the base-board G, the different positions assumed by the nprights G in their bearing againstthe foot, which gives the tread orcontour of the latter.

Grooves, lm, should be made in the base-board G, to prevent the markers from -being dulled by contact with said board, and to insure their proper action.

'lo measure the height of the foot at different parts--as, for instance, the height of the instep, also of the ball and great toe, or other irregularitiescertain of these adjustable measuring-uprights .C are provided with vertically-adjustable horizontal bars D, arranged so as to be capable of heilig slid up or down said uprights, and accordingly as they bea'rv or come in contact with the portions of the foot they are designed to get the height or', the measurement thus attained being recorded by scales, d, on the uprights, up or down which said horizontal bars are adjusted.

These vertically-adjustable horizontal bars D may be changed, as required, -to t corresponding uprights l and V:ments-mas, for instance, the under side of the great toe, which is in some feet much more raised than in others-may be taken by sight directed across the frame, under the foot, and, as in the measurements by the scales d, be noted down', for use in connection with the marks made ,to indicate the tread or contour, as hereinb'efore described.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by 1. The` combination of l the sole-plate A, outside surrounding frameB, and `radial bars F, with the adjustable measuring-uprights O and springs s, for

measuring the tread or contour of the foot, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the adjustable measuri'ug-uprightsvC, or' certain of them, of the verticallyadjustable horizontal.. bars. 1'), for measuring the height of the foot at certain parts, as well as its contour or tread, essentially as herein set forth.

3. The combination of the springs s with the adjustable measuring-uprights C, operating independently of each other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The arrangement of a .scale 'or.soales on thc measuring-uprights 0which carry the vertically-adjustable horizontal bars D, essentially as described.

5. A boot-conformator made up of a sole-plate, A, surrounding hinged or vertically-operating frame B, yielding or adjustable measuring uprights C, with their markers E and vertically-adjustable horizontal bars D, substantially asspecified.

Witnesses: S. NV. SHOREY.

JOHN D. Rossum, HENRY PALMER.. 

